Disclaimer – I do not own any of the rights to the characters from Bleach and so forth.

This is chapter 2 to Tears and Blood. It was interesting trying to think of where this might go, but I think I got it. I want to personally thank the few people that took a liking to what I wrote, even though it was my first time writing something like this. If you have suggestions, requests or ideas for other fanfics or stories, just let me know.

It was dark. A pitch black that loomed over head in every direction. There were no distinct shapes all around him. It was like staring into a massive pit that chased the light away from all existence. That was where he was. That is where he disappeared to after his life left his body and into the void. Ichigo . . . was alone.

Ichigo looked around at the darkness that surrounded him. He couldn't figure out what was going on, and had no recollection of what to do. All he remembered was a face. The face of a beautiful woman he thought he knew. She kept swimming inside his mind over and over. He felt warmth when the face appeared, but was left cold when the darkness took him. It seemed like he was floating in mid air like there was no ground or sky. No place to rest his head or place his feet. He stayed, thinking about what was going on. Thinking about the face that was in his head.

Slowly, he delved into his consciousness, thinking, "Do I know this person? Why do I feel so . . . tense . . . but happy?" But try as he might, nothing came to his mind. Only the feeling of happiness that he felt through his body. He knew her face meant something important to him. But he couldn't grasp a hold on what it might be. As the face began to fade away, he tried his hardest to reach it. But soon, it was quiet; Deathly quiet as he floated in the darkness. And yet, there was something else. Something he had missed or did not feel the presence of. An ominous black feeling that was in the back of his mind.

"You did know her." Said a voice from afar. "But lying there isn't going to help, is it!?"

In an instant, Ichigo came to what little senses he had left, and found himself in a white room. The room was built with beautiful white pillars, but with nothing for them to support in the ever reaching hall that he was in. There were no windows, but the whole of the building was lit with light from out of no where. The room seemed to go on for miles, and yet, he found himself at the feet of a small staircase that held but one black chair. In the seat of the lonely chair, was himself. But something was off. The Ichigo before him was garbed in a pure white Shihakusho, and he was even as white as the walls around him. The only distinct feature this Ichigo had was his black eyes with yellow pupils, and an evil grin smeared across his face. The sight made Ichigo's hair stand on end, and a shiver ran all through his body.

"You look scared, Ichi. What? Never seen yourself in the mirror before!?" The strange Ichigo laughed maniacally as he stood up and walked down the stair towards Ichigo. "But I guess that just happens when the only thing you remember is yourself after your dead!"

Ichigo stared at the strange figure before him with shock. He was dead? How did it happen though? Why did it happen? With a jolt, Ichigo stood and faced the strange Ichigo before him.

"I'm dead?" Ichigo asked quietly.

"Yep! Well, pretty damn close if you wanna call it that." The Strange Ichigo said slyly.

"But . . . How? Why!?" Ichigo yelled.

"I could tell you. But the thought slipped my mind! Ha ha ha!"

"Then where am I!? What is this place!?" Ichigo screamed at the figure.

"Well," The Strange Ichigo said with an evil smile. "Some call this place, the Void, others, the Path to Judgment. But a common name for this place, is Purgatory. The place of reckoning and realization."

"And . . . Who are you?" Ichigo asked cautiously.

"You really don't know? Ha! You're as thick as the blood that once flowed though your veins! Distinct by appearance, but solid and uninteresting as the person you once were!" The Strange Ichigo yelled.

"That doesn't answer my question!"

The smile faded from the Strange Ichigos' face as he walked slowly over to Ichigo. Ichigo felt an icy sting in his body as the Strange approached him.

"I am you, Ichigo. I am your fears. Your nightmares. Your evil. I am the pain you feel, and the sadness that overtakes your body. I am the despair that cripples you, even as we speak to one another. I. Am. Your. Reckoning."

Ichigo froze in place as the Strange faced him, inches from himself. Ichigo couldn't move. His whole body went numb with fear. How was this Strange Ichigo his reckoning? As Ichigo stood there, his face pale as a ghost, the Strange placed a hand on his shoulder, and pain shot through his body. If he could move before, he couldn't now. He couldn't even react to what was happening to him. All he could do was stare as the Strange gripped him tighter, and laughed quietly. It was like all the physical and mental pains he had suffered were being forced through his body.

"You may not be fully dead yet, Ichigo. But your soul is slipping." The Strange Ichigo smiled coldly. "This is your judgment. Your weak, Ichigo. Your fears and doubts, are all before you! And all you can do is give up to them! Ha ha ha!"

"What are doing to me!?" Ichigo yelled through gritting teeth as another wave a pain rushed through him.

"I'm going to consume you, Ichigo." The Strange said coldly. "Your soul will forever be lost in the void while I control you. You will never see light or anything ever again. You thoughts, your feelings, and your memories will never again seep into your soul. You will cease to exist."

Ichigo was terrified. Thoughts of fear pierced his mind when he thought of being nothing more than a shell of what he once was. As he looked into the Stranges' face, the Strange started to laugh again, and the grip on Ichigos' shoulder tightened. But worse than the pain he felt before, memories of pain and anguish filled him to his very core. Memories of pains in his past, his hate, his fear, and his disappointments flooded his very soul. He yelled in anguish, but no sound was to be heard. He tried to struggle, but no movements came from his body. All he could do was suffer as all hope of going on began to wash away from him. And the face, the face of the beautiful woman was beginning to erode as his sight turned black, and his consciousness wavered. But in the mist of his mind, another voice came out of the darkness. An old voice that he had never heard before.

"Fight . . ."

The voice said. But it was only a whisper as a new wave of pain gripped Ichigo.

"Fight."

It was much closer now. Even as the wail of the Stranges' laughter began to take him over, he felt it was close. Like a light in the black of his mind. A will. A small flicker of force that grew stronger inside him.

"So ends the life of Ichigo! You may have been courageous in the last moments of your life, but you will die here! Welcome! To your hell!" The Strange Ichigo laughed. Then, when all Ichigos' thoughts seemed lost, and as he was slowly fading away, the voice took form behind him.

"Fight, Ichigo!"

Within seconds, the small force inside him erupted into strength. A force to push his pain away, and with his conscious thoughts returning to him, Ichigo gripped the Stranges' arm, and wrenched it away. The Strange staggered backwards and growled at Ichigo. As the last of the hopeless memories faded away, Ichigo turned and faced who was behind him.

Behind him, was an old man. The man wore something of a long black coat but at the ends, it whipped and frayed like fire in the wind. He wore sharp looking glasses and had a stern look on his face. At his side, was a long, black sword. But the shape was unlike anything Ichigo had ever seen. It had no hilt guard, and looked like it was shaped to resemble a half moon stature, and was bigger than he was. The old man stood looking at Ichigo with a hard gaze.

"Who are you?" Ichigo asked confused and out of breath.

"I am the same as him." The man said as he pointed the large sword towards the Strange Ichigo.

"Then . . . you're my fears as well . . ." Ichigo said as he shuttered.

"No. I am the very essence of your soul, Ichigo. I am just as much a part of you, as he is."

"Then what are you?"

"I am the part of you that makes you who you are. I am your courage when the odds are against you. I am your loyalty when those you love are in danger. I am your kindness, your bravery, and all that is good in you. I am the essence of your happiness, as he is the essence of your sadness. We are what make you whole, Ichigo."

Ichigo stared confused at the figure before him. Were they really the parts of him that he never saw? The good and the evil? As Ichigo stared at him, the old man walked up to him, and placed his hand on Ichigos' shoulder. Ichigo flinched as the old mans' hand made contact. But instead of pain, it was a just a gentle touch. Warmth began to flow through Ichigos' body. Happy memories from when he was younger and further in his life flowed through his body. The feeling was exhilarating. He watched as more and more memories zoomed in and out of his thoughts. And, out of the flash, came the face he had seen before. Her face, he knew, meant something special to him. But before he came to a conclusion as to who he was, and who the beautiful face belonged too, the old man lifted his hand, and looked coldly at Ichigo. Ichigo stared dumbstruck at the figure before him. Like it was with the Strange Ichigo making contact with his body with fear and pain, the old man revealed all the happiness in him and more importantly, his courage to fight. But he had to know what was happening. He had to know why he was here.

"What's going on?" Ichigo said as he looked at the old man.

The old man peered at Ichigo with content. It was like a great force of light and hope flooded from the old man before Ichigo.

"You are at the brink, Ichigo. Purgatory." The old man said smoothly. "You are not dead, Ichigo. But your soul is slipping into the void. He, is your fear. And I, am your strength. When you decided to give your life for the one you loved most in your life, you gave what little life you had left to keep her safe. Your body may have been broken, but you can still return to it."

"But how can I? Why am I slipping away?" Ichigo asked confused.

"You are at your own judgment, Ichigo. You must decide if you are to keep living, or give in to your fears and fade away forever. The only thing that is keeping you here is your own fear. Just as you found the courage to save her, so too must you now find the strength to face death."

"But I don't even know who she is! I think I may have loved her, but I can't grasp why! And why do I have to face my fears!?"

"Because you are afraid, Ichigo! Your afraid of losing who you are! Afraid of the void that awaits you! And afraid of Death!" Yelled the old man as he pierced the floor with his massive sword. "Where were your fears when you risked your life for her!? Where is your courage when you need it now more than anything?"

As Ichigo listened to the old man, he realized what he was here for. It had not occurred to him what he was afraid of, but it was clearer now than it ever was. He WAS afraid of being lost. But more than that, he was afraid to die. He wanted to live. He didn't understand why, but a primal instinct festered inside him that told him so. He gave his life for someone he loved, and he wasn't going to let that go. He wanted to know more than anything, who she was.

"If you want to go back to her," The old man said quietly, "Then you have to take your life into your own hands and fight for your right to live. You gave it freely to save her, but can you fight to live for her once more? Fear is the only thing that is holding you back. If you want to see Orihime again, you must fight."

"Orihime?" Ichigo looked surprised as the old man said her name. Her name meant much more to Ichigo now that he knew it. Memories from his past of her poured into his mind as he tried to remember her. Her face, her smile, her laughter took over, and he felt a flurry of emotion course through him. He loved her, and he gave his life to save her from the same fate he faced now. The memory of how they walked through the park, the memory of how he was attacked, and how he confessed his undying love to her brought something back to him that he had lost. It was subtle, but began to grow as he remembered why he was here. And as if something hit him, he realized that he had died for her. That he gave her everything so that she might live to see tomorrow.

"But how can I go back?" Ichigo asked cautiously.

"Idiot!" The old man said sternly. "I have told you this already! The choice is yours! You must decide your own fate, as you decided the fate of your beloved! Will you live, or will you die here?"

"I want to live . . ." Ichigo said confidently. "I want to live to see her again!"

"Then you have to fight for your life, Ichigo.

"But how do I fight him?" Ichigo asked.

"With this." The old man said as he gave Ichigo the massive blade.

"But I've never even held a sword before! How do I beat him!?"

"That, Ichigo, you must figure out on your own. But you must hurry, time is running out. You must not show fear when you face him. The apparition before you is your very fears and doubts. He, is the force that you must conquer before you can return to Orihime."

Ichigo gripped the hilt of the sword firmly as he frowned and turned to face the Strange before him. To Ichigo's surprise, the Strange Ichigo had the same sword similar to what Ichigo was holding. The only difference was the color. The Stranges' sword, was as white as he was, but looked menacingly more lethal that Ichigos'. But just as the Strange Ichigos' sword pulsed with hate and despair, Ichigos' own sword gave him something different. It gave him a drive to live. A drive to face the apparition before him, and stamp it out. Ichigo then raised his sword, and began to walk towards the Strange.

"So! Think you can just brush me away, huh?" Said the Strange Ichigo with the same maniacal laugh he had earlier. "I'll tell you right now, Ichigo, I will never go away! I will always be in the corner of your mind where there is only room for your weakness! And that weakness will keep you here forever!" With that, the Strange Ichigo flew foreword and slashed at Ichigos side. Ichigo was barely able to block the tremendous blow before it struck his body. The power behind the swing of the Stranges' sword was incredibly powerful, and staggered Ichigo.

"Are you scared, little Ichi?" Snickered the Strange as he grinned maliciously at Ichigo. "Scared you might lose this fight? Cuz I already know you are! And a dark pit of despair is what awaits you because you can't beat me! You fear death more than life. You may have saved her with your life, but you're in my world now!" The Strange then began to unleash a flurry of mighty blows upon Ichigo. Ichigo was only barely able to block some of the Stranges' strikes, but was too slow when the Strange Ichigo slipped behind him and cut him across his back. As pain shot through Ichigos' body, he turned around and ran towards the Strange. But as he did, the Strange jumped foreword and swung his sword at Ichigos chest. As quick as Ichigo could, he pulled the massive sword up, and blocked the strike. Fear gripped Ichigo as he stood facing the terrible figure before him. He knew he couldn't lose. He had one shot to get his life back, but the strength of his opponent was so tremendous that it seemed impossible.

"Ichigo! Don't let him control you, Ichigo!" Shouted the old man. "You cannot let him control you, Ichigo! You must let your fears go!"

"Too bad he's already mine!" Laughed the Strange. Ichigo was scared. As the Strange unleashed another flurry of blows, they only seemed to get stronger and faster as they fought. His confidence began to slowly fade away as he faced the reality before him. Was this the end? Was this really all he had against his own fears? As Ichigo fell into desperation of disappearing forever, his movements slowed, and his strength fell as the last blow from the Strange Ichigo sunk into his shoulder. He screamed in pain, and fear began to consume him once more. Fear of not existing, fear of being lost, and fear of losing. Then, when the Strange removed his sword from Ichigos flesh, he stepped back and laughed.

"I said you couldn't beat me! You're too damn afraid of me!" The Strange then walked over to Ichigo and, with one thrust of his blade, forced it into Ichigos chest. "Like I said, little Ichi. You can't beat me! Funny how this turned out! Beaten by your own fears! You really are pathetic!"

Ichigo was limp. He just stared at the blade that was imbedded into his body. The same pains that shot through his body when the Strange Ichigo touched him came coursing back through him. His worst fears now bloomed into terrible flowers inside him. His vision started to fade as he began to slip away. All that remained was a small light inside him that was the memories that he would soon lose forever. He simply smiled as the last of his precious experiences and times flashed around him. The last thing that came to his mind, was Orihime. His beautiful bride to be, and the one thing that he loved more than anything.

"I love you . . . Orihime." Ichigo said quietly as he slowly faded away.

"I love you too, Ichigo. You're an amazing guy and I don't care about what happened then. I love the person you are now, with me." Said Orihime as Ichigo remembered his last moment with her. As his last memory of her slipped away, a pulse broke the ever lasting trance Ichigo was in.

"I love her." He thought to himself. "I loved her enough to die for her. But I can go back . . . I can see her again . . ."

The Strange Ichigo looked at Ichigo with confidence and laughed long through out the pale room that contained the three of them. But the Strange was cut off when Ichigo moved his hand towards the Stranges' sword, and slowly pulled it out of himself. The Strange now stared at Ichigo with disbelief. As Ichigo coughed up blood from his lungs on to the ever growing pool of blood on the floor, he stared at the Strange Ichigo with stern eyes. But something was different. Ichigos' body now pulsed with strength, and a mass of energy now ripped through the still air of the while hall. As the Strange Ichigo stared at Ichigo with shock, his face now contorted into an evil glare as he lunged to attack Ichigo.

"No . . . No way! Your mine, Ichigo! You can't beat me!" The Strange Ichigo screamed as he lunged towards Ichigo. As he swung his sword at Ichigo, Ichigo blocked the blow as quick as lightning. Awestruck, the Strange Ichigo yelled in furry and began striking at Ichigo with all his strength. But to Ichigo, it was as if the strikes against his sword were as light as the wind that carried them. As the Strange Ichigo swung with all his might, Ichigo then dropped his sword, and with one hand, caught the Stranges' sword. Bewildered and awestruck, the strange tried to pull his sword free, but was unsuccessful.

"Impossible! You can't beat me you worthless punk!" Yelled the Strange Ichigo.

"And I thought so too. But I now know what you really are." Ichigo said calmly. "I was scared at first. The thought of being lost, and the thought of never seeing Orihime, almost consumed me. But I found the answer of how to beat you."

"I – Impossible . . ." The Strange Ichigo stuttered.

"You are only my fears. Nothing more. But my will to see Orihime again," Ichigo said sternly, "Is enough to beat you! Because I beat you once to save her! And I'll do it again to see her smile!" And with one sure grip of his hand Ichigo shattered the Stranges sword. As soon as the blade broke, the pieces splintered across the floor, and disappeared. Just as the sword was gone, the Strange Ichigo began to fade as well. Before the Strange Ichigo faded away, with one last scowl, he said,

"Not bad, Ichi. But remember, I'm always with you." And with a quiet laugh, he faded away into nothing. With great relief, Ichigo turned to face the old man. As he stared at the old man, Ichigo picked up the sword, and handed it back to him.

"You did well, Ichigo." The old man said, though his expression didn't change. "But you still have a choice to make. Will you go back to her? Or will you pass on in peace?"

"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked confused and irritated. "I just beat him! What do you mean I still have a choice to make!? I thought it was clear that I wanted to go back to her!"

"You are still in the void, Ichigo. You have faced your fears, and beat them. But now, you can either move on into the afterlife that awaits you, or go back to Orihime."

Ichigo looked down at his feet. The thought of going on was not something he had really thought of. But then again, seeing Orihime was something that would only happen once in a life time. But was it really worth going back for? Was it worth the unclear future of Ichigo and Orihime? After a moment, he simply smiled and said, "I don't want to go back to her."

The old man looked at him sternly, but before he could answer, Ichigo looked up with hard eyes and blazing confidence and said, "I WILL go back to her! Because I love her! And I'll be damned if anything is going to stop me now!"

The old man then made a small smile and raised his sword in the air.

"So be it, Ichigo." He said softly.

Ichigo could only stare as the old man evaporated in front of him. As quickly as the old man left, the walls of the hall began to crack and splinter. The great pillars that stood were beginning to fall and shatter. Before Ichigo had time to react, the floor disappeared, and he was sent falling into space. As he fell, the whole of the building came crashing down upon him, and he saw no more.

It was now quiet as it once was before. Utter silence for a few minutes. But then he heard it.

"Ichigo . . ." Said a soft quiet voice. But where was it coming from? That voice was so soft and loving, but sad at the same time.

"Oh, Ichigo . . ."

"Why is she sad?" Ichigo asked himself. "Why do I feel so heavy? And why is it still dark?" He thought. Slowly, he opened his eyes and stared at what looked like a ceiling. Confused, Ichigo looked around the room. He was in the hospital, from what he could tell, and was lying in bed. He looked down to see that he had been wrapped with gauss and wasn't bleeding anymore. As he looked up again, he could hear the bustling of people running to and fro from the other rooms, but he also heard someone crying. As he looked over, he saw Orihime, with her face in her hands and sobbing. She was sitting beside his bed, and she looked like she hadn't moved for days.

"Orihime?" Ichigo asked weakly towards her. When she heard his voice, she looked over to him in shock. Tears welled at her eyes as she gazed into his eyes. Then, a faint smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Ichigo?" She asked through small sobs.

"Yes?" He asked with a smile. But before he could finish his statement, she leapt to his side and hugged him tightly. As she did, Ichigo felt the same wave of happiness he did before. Though, despite the immediate pain that broke inside his chest, he was happier than he had ever been. He was back. And more importantly, he was with her once more.

"Oh, Ichigo! I thought you were gone!" She said crying uncontrollably. "I thought I had lost you forever!" She looked up and kissed him softly over and over again.

"It's ok, Orihime. I'm back." He said softly as he smiled and held her close. "What happened?" he asked after some hesitation.

Orihime look up and wiped the tears from her face and said softly, "You died, Ichigo. They said you were gone . . . but they brought you back and put you in here to keep an eye on you. You were still out when they fixed you up and you've been in here for a week . . ." she then became solemn and said quietly, "I thought you were gone for sure. But I never left your side, Ichi. I knew you would come back. I just . . . I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. . ." Tears began to roll down her cheeks and she spoke. Then Ichigo brought her close and kissed her softly. As he pulled from the kiss, he looked deeply into her eyes. The same eyes that he had fallen for a thousand times, to him, would always stay the same.

"If it wasn't for you, Orihime . . ." Ichigo said softly, "Then I never would have made it back. Orihime, I love you. And I want to spend every precious moment I have with you."

Orihime lifted her head and smiled weakly.

"I love you too, Ichigo. And I want to spend the rest of my life you."

As I said before, it was interesting to see where this could go. I was thinking about maybe writing multiple chapters of different scenarios for the end after reading a few of the ideas that were brought to me. All I need is for you guys to tell me. But, if it seems like what I wrote is a good end to the story, awesome!

But regardless, I hope you all enjoyed this little fanfic. As I said before, I've never done anything like this before, and I'm now glad I did.

So with out further a do, I wanna say thank you to those who read this. It means a lot to me. And I look forward to writing more in the near future.

Cheers.